Facelift for Chamundi Hills inches closer to reality under PRASHAD scheme
After years of back and forth between the Karnataka government and the Centre, there is finally some progress on the development of Chamundi Hills under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme of the Central government. The Department of Tourism has called a tender for the development of public amenities there.
Chamundi Hills in Mysuru is one of the sites in Karnataka that has been considered for development under the scheme which aims to provide sustainable religious tourism, along with the Sri Renuka Yellamma temple in Saundatti in Belagavi and the Paapnaash Shiv Temple in Bidar. The scheme looks to meet the needs of devotees as well as tourists, and build amenities that would encourage both the groups to visit the site more often.
Among the things that have been proposed for the Chamundi Hills project are drinking water and toilet facilities, a queue mandapa around the temple premises to ensure regular and unhindered pilgrim flow, stone columns along the stretch, redesigned steps of the hill, a multi-purpose hall, footwear stands, a fountain the around Mahishasura circle, a police booth, etc.
While a tender was first called a few months ago, the estimated cost of development came up to ₹108 crore, which is ₹60 crore more than the Central government's allocation for the project.
'We sent the proposal back to the Central government for the release of the additional amount, but they did not agree to do it. We then requested the State government to provide the extra funds and received their approval. Now, the Centre will give ₹48 crore for the project, while the State will give ₹60 crore,' explained Salma Fahim, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department. She added, 'We hope that this time we can award the tender and the work can finally begin.'
There had been a considerable delay in the release of funds from the Centre for the Chamundi Hills project which led to tensions during the South India Tourism Conclave held in September 2024 in Bengaluru. H.K. Patil, Minister of Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, had said that 'it was a matter of embarrassment.' The Union Minister had then retorted saying that there was some work pending on the State's part.
Apart from the PRASHAD scheme, Chamundi Hills has also been included in the Centre's Swadesh Darshan 2.0., with an allocated cost of ₹23 crore. This will include a Tonga Ride Heritage Experience Zone and an Ecological Experience Zone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Ladakh infrastructure: Mobile towers will ensure connectivity; FM Sitharaman's major push for digital India
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reaffirmed Centre's commitment to the holistic development of Ladakh, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening digital connectivity, promoting tourism, and expanding credit access across the Union territory. Speaking at a credit outreach programme organised by the Union Territory Level Bankers Committee (UTLBC) in Leh, the minister announced that the upcoming expansion of the BharatNet project and the installation of new mobile towers will ensure digital access in every panchayat of Ladakh. 'The upcoming BharatNet expansion and additional mobile towers will ensure digital connectivity to every panchayat in the region,' Sitharaman said. She praised the implementation of government-sponsored schemes in the region and highlighted that, in line with recent budget announcements, focused support would be extended to promote 'layered tourism' in Ladakh. This includes financial aid for new homestays and tourism-related infrastructure, which the minister said would help boost the local economy. The event was attended by MP Mohmad Haneefa, chief secretary Pawan Kotwal, and senior officials from the department of financial services, UT administration, and various financial institutions. As part of the outreach programme, banks handed over sanction letters worth Rs 5.12 crore to 25 beneficiaries under different government credit linkage schemes. According to an official spokesperson, these schemes are tailored to improve credit penetration and foster inclusive growth in Ladakh's remote, high-altitude areas. The event also featured 15 stalls showcasing local products and services developed by Ladakhi entrepreneurs supported by banks and NABARD, reflecting the region's growing entrepreneurial spirit. Lauding the role of the banking sector in deepening financial inclusion, Sitharaman credited the JAM trinity — Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile, with transforming direct benefit transfers and improving individuals' creditworthiness. 'Today, PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana) accounts collectively hold a balance exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore,' she noted. In Ladakh, she added, targeted credit support has empowered artisans, agricultural producers, food processors, and handicraft makers to grow their businesses and reach wider markets. The finance minister also highlighted other key infrastructure developments, including all-weather tunnel projects to improve connectivity, renewable energy initiatives to achieve energy self-sufficiency, NTPC's green hydrogen push, and the launch of green buses in Leh. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Andhra: CM seeks Centre's support for tobacco procurement, aqua exports, GST cut on mango pulp, reconsider import duties on palm oil
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 15 (ANI): Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met with visiting Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal here on Sunday to discuss the challenges faced by farmers of various commercial crops and the aqua sector in the state. The Union Minister was on an official visit to the state. Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key ally in the NDA government at the Centre. The meeting covered key issues, including HD Burley tobacco procurement, import duties on crude palm oil, tariffs imposed by the United States on aqua exports, and GST on mango pulp, according to a statement by Andhra Pradesh's Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). CM Naidu explained the on-ground realities and hardships faced by farmers in the state and highlighted the steps being taken by the state government. He appealed for central support to address these challenges. The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that farmers cultivating HD Burley and White Burley tobacco are facing severe price drops this season. To address this, the state government has already initiated procurement efforts. CM Naidu stated that a plan is in place to procure 20 million kilograms of tobacco at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Seven procurement centers have been established in Bapatla, Guntur, Palnadu, and Prakasam districts through the AP MARKFED. He requested that Rs 150 crore be provided through the Tobacco Board to support these efforts. He further informed that the tobacco cultivation area has increased to 1.31 lakh hectares this year compared to the previous year. With declining international demand, farmers are suffering losses. He urged the Centre to amend the law to bring tobacco production and marketing fully under the Tobacco Board's purview. The CM brought to the Minister's notice the difficulties faced by palm oil farmers due to the reduction of import duty on crude palm oil to 10 per cent. He noted that this has led to low prices for domestic farmers. CM Naidu urged that the earlier duty structure be reinstated, as the current cut would hinder the targets set under the National Mission on Edible Oils. Highlighting the impact of US tariffs, the Chief Minister explained that around 8 lakh aqua farmers in the state are incurring losses due to a 27 per cent tariff imposed on exports. He requested the Union Minister to initiate dialogue with US authorities to reduce the tariff burden. The Chief Minister emphasised that these tariffs are pushing farmers, hatcheries, feed mills, processing units, and exporters into crisis. He appealed for proactive intervention from the Centre to resolve the issue. CM Naidu also appealed to reduce the GST on mango pulp from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. He pointed out that mango toffee (mamidi thandra) is taxed at 5 per cent and suggested that mango pulp should be treated similarly. He added that reducing the GST would benefit both mango farmers and the pulp processing industry. He informed the Minister that this issue has already been raised with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In response to CM Naidu's requests, Union Minister Piyush Goyal assured that the Centre would take positive steps to support farmers engaged in tobacco, palm oil, and mango cultivation, the Andhra Pradesh DIPR statement added. 'We had an in-depth discussion on a wide range of development initiatives in the state, with a special focus on industrial growth. Assured the Government of Andhra Pradesh of our full support as it spearheads the transformation in the lives of the people of the state,' the Union minister also wrote on X after the meeting. Talking to reporters later, the Union minister said he met officials of the Industrial Development Corporation, a national body, that is developing three industrial nodes in Andhra Pradesh. 'We also extensively development of all the three nodes, potential industries that we can attract, how we can speed up the development of the three nodes being set up in partnership with central government and Andhra Pradesh Government, and potentially what more we can do to attract different sectors, foreign direct investment and promote job generation in the state of Andhra Pradesh,' he said. He also apprised that the works for new campus of National Institute of Design (NID) has made a 'good progress'. NID is coming up in Kakinada. Talking about the Tobacco Board, which happens to be in Andhra Pradesh, Piyush Goyal said, 'I believe the Tobacco Board has also made very good progress -- with the farmers over the last four years, almost doubling their income.' He conceded that there are, however, some issues about excess production, which he said will have to be curtailed. He said he has directed his officials to make sure that excess production is disallowed. 'Otherwise these good prices are not sustainable and therefore I have directed the officials to make sure that excess production should no more be allowed and we should have production as per the approved plan, so that the prices can be maintained at a reasonable level, otherwise everybody will suffer,' Piyush Goyal told reporters. India has a prominent place in the production of tobacco in the world, and Andhra Pradesh is a major contributor. (ANI)
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
India's household savings show a sustained fall; liabilities rise: CareEdge
New Delhi: India's gross domestic savings fell to 30.7% of GDP in FY24, down from 32.2% in FY15, driven by a sustained decline in household savings, CareEdge Ratings said in a recent report. Household savings, which form the backbone of domestic capital formation or investment in the economy, dropped for a third straight year to 18.1% of GDP in FY24, raising concerns about the long-term resilience of the savings base in an economy heavily reliant on domestic consumption and investment. At the same time, gross financial liabilities of households surged to 6.2% of GDP in FY24, nearly double the level seen a decade ago, the rating agency said in its 'Economic Pathway June 2025' report. Gross domestic savings refers to the share of a nation's income that is set aside rather than spent on final consumption, typically expressed as a percentage of GDP. It serves as a key indicator of a country's financial health and its ability to fund future investment and drive long-term economic growth. According to a 30 May note from the Union ministry of statistics and program implementation, real GDP (at constant prices) is projected to reach ₹ 187.97 trillion in FY25, up from ₹ 176.51 trillion in FY24 (First Revised Estimates), marking a growth of 6.5%. Real GDP strips out the effect of inflation to reflect a more accurate measure of economic output. Nominal GDP (at current prices) is estimated at ₹ 330.68 trillion for FY25, compared to ₹ 301.23 trillion in the previous year, reflecting a growth of 9.8%. Meanwhile, the Centre's capital expenditure rose to ₹ 10.5 trillion in FY25, surpassing the revised estimate of ₹ 10.2 trillion, the CareEdge Ratings report said. Both the Centre and 20 major states saw a rebound in capex during the second half of the year, reversing the contraction recorded in the first half, it added. The report also noted a strong start to FY26, with the Centre achieving 14.3% of its budgeted capex in April, compared to 8.9% in the same month last year. "The encouraging trends in public capex remain positive for the investment scenario in the economy," it added. The Centre has earmarked ₹ 11.21 trillion for capital expenditure in FY26, a 10% increase over the previous fiscal. In addition, states will receive ₹ 1.5 trillion in special assistance for capital spending during the fiscal year. This takes the Centre's effective capital expenditure to a projected ₹ 15.5 trillion in FY26, up from ₹ 13.18 trillion in FY25. Effective capital expenditure includes outlays that may not be classified strictly as capital spending but contribute to asset creation, such as allocations under the rural employment guarantee scheme and infrastructure assistance to states. CareEdge Ratings also expects non-petroleum exports to contract by 0.8% in FY26, after growing 6.1% in FY25. According to data from the ministry of commerce and industry, India's non-petroleum exports hit a record $374.1 billion in FY25, marking a 6% increase over the previous year, driven by robust gains in electronic goods, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Electronic goods led the surge, with exports soaring 32.5% year-on-year. "India's non-petroleum goods exports growth has remained feeble but in the positive territory," the report said. "Petroleum exports growth has continued to contract amid lower oil prices," it added. The rating agency noted that rural consumer confidence hovered around the threshold of 100 between September 2023 and May 2025, with values over 100 denoting optimism, while urban consumer confidence remained well below that mark during the same period. "Favourable agricultural prospects, easing food inflation and upbeat rural wage growth have aided the rural demand scenario," it said. "Going ahead, (impact of) RBI policy rate cuts, lower tax burden and continued easing of price pressures remain key tailwinds for the broad-based demand recovery," it added.
